Light fixture



April 6, 1965 D. L. SUTTIE LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Feb. 9, 1962 INVENTOR..Dwm L. Same United States Patent 3,177,358 LIGHT FIXTURE David L.Suttie, 2415 Elini, Zion, iii. Filed Feb. 9, H62, Ser. No. 172,2ii3 4Qiairns. (Q1. 24t =52.l5)

This invention relates to a trouble or work light fixture of the typewhich will protect the light bulb from damage and which may be attachedto or positioned upon a supporting structure or surface in such a mannerthat the light may be directed toward the desired work area. The fixturehas features which render it particularly advantageous for use inconnection with automobile repair work as well as other work where it isoften difficult to mount a fixture and direct the light at the properangle.

Trouble light fixtures in common use today have a handle with a lampsocket at one end and a cord extending through the handle to the socket.The socket end of the handle may be clamped between two half sections ofa wire, cagelike guard which extends about and protects the lamp or bulbmounted within the socket. A threaded fastener is usually employed totightly clamp the two sections of the guard together about the socketend of the handle; and the three parts are, thus, usually separated whenservicing the bulb. A hook or hanger provided at the top of the guardpermits the fixture to be hung from various supporting structures.Unfortunately, when such a fixture is hooked to an overhangingstructure, as is usually the case, it hangs from the structure at suchan angle that most of the light is actually directed away from theunderlying area where it is most needed. Moreover, in some instances, asfor example, during repair work under the hood of an automobile, thereis no convenient place to hook or even properly rest the trouble light.During tire changing or work performed from b low the automobile wherethe light fixture often must rest on the ground, trouble light fixturesof present design tend to roll and to direct the light into therepairmans eyes. In addition, in order to replace the lamp or bulb infixtures of previous design, it is necessary to manipulate the threadedfastener holding the three separate pieces of the fixture together. Thisis sometimes difficult and time-consuming, particularly, if done in theabsence of supplementary lighting.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide aportabletrouble light fixture which will effectively guard the lamp orlight bulb and which may be easily manipulated and mounted to directlight at an advantageous angle.

It is another object of this invention to provide an inexpensive troublelight fixture which is adapted for many uses and may rest upon or beattached to a wide variety of supporting structures without benefit ornecessity. of hooks, hangers, clamps or the like. I

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a portabletrouble light fixture which may rest upon a horizontal surface and yetcast light at an advantageous angle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a trouble lightfixture which permits the light bulb to be quickly and easily changedwithout manipulation of a threaded fastener and without removal of theguard.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an inexpensivetrouble light fixture which may be firmly attached to a magneticallyattractable supporting structure and-may direct the light at anadvantageous angle.

Other objects may be seen, and a fuller understanding of the inventionmay be had by referring to the following description and claims taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing.

, In accordance with one embodiment of this invention,

Patented Apr. 6, 1965 the fixture comprises a wire frame having a baseportion, a convex cagelike guard portion which is obliquely disposedwith respect to the base portion and an upstanding intermediate portioninterconnecting the base and guard portions. A shallow concave reflectoris releasably attached to the back side of the guard portion, and a lampsocket means having an elongate handle is removably attached to theguard portion of the frame by means of a clamp. The handle of the lampsocket means extends from the bottom of the guard portion, that is, fromapprom'mately the junction of the guard portion and the intermediateportion, and the handle and the guard portion are preferably disposed atthe same oblique angle (preferably between about and degrees) withrespect to the plane of the base portion. Thus, when the base portion isresting on a horizontal surface, the handle extends forwardly anddownwardly for convenient manipulation of the fixture.

A lamp mounted in the socket will extend into the space between theconvex guard portion and the concave reflector. Means in the form of apermanent magnet attached to and extending through the base portion ofthe frame permits the frame to be releasably attached to any desiredmagnetically attractable support.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a trouble light fixture constructed inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation View of the fixture;

FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of the clamp which is used to attach thelamp socket means to the frame; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the fixture showing the manner inwhich the fixture may be magnetically attached to and suspended from amagnetically attractable support such as the underside of an automobilehood.

With further reference to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and2, the light fixture 10 constructed in accordance with this inventionhas a cagelike frame 12 which is preferably constructed of heavy gaugewire, such as for example, 12 gauge wire. This frame, if desired, may beformed of equivalent strip or even thin sheet material, the importantconsideration being the cagelike construction which protects the lamp orbulb 13 but does not unduly block the light from the bulb.

The frame It has a base portion 14, a guard portion 16 and anintermediate portion 18. In the illustrated embodiment the base portion14 and the intermediate portion 13 are formed integrally of a singlewire. The base portion 14 is preferably planar and includes a pair ofdiverging legs 24) and 22 and a transverse connecting back portion 24.The intermediate portion 18 includes two upstanding elements 26 and 28which are extensions of legs 2:? and 22, respectively, of the frame baseportion.

The guard portion 16 of the frame includes a first pair of parallelcurved frame wires 30 and 32 which are connected to the upstandingelements 26 and 28, respectively, of the frame portion 18. A similarsecond pair of curved parallel frame wires 34 and 36 are transverselydisposed with respect to the first pair of frame wires 39 and 32, and acircular frame wire 38 connects the pairs of frame wires 36-32 and 34-36adjacent their ends to in effect define the periphery of the cagelikeguard portion 16 of the frame.

The lower ends of the frame wires 36 and 32 extend beyond the circularperipheral frame wire 38 and are curved inwardly to formreflector-engaging fingers 46, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. Theopposite ends of frame wires 5% and 32 also overextend the circularperipheral frame wire 38 and are curved first inwardly'and then flaredoutwardly to form a pair of resilient latching forma tions 42 adjacentthe top of the guard portion 16.

A shallow concave reflector 4 formed of sheet metal (preferably 8 gauge)having an outwardly extending peripheral flange 44a is releasablyattached to the guard portion 16 of the frame by means of the fingers 40and the latching formations .42. As best illustrated in. FIG. 2, theinwardly curvingfingers-itl at the bottom of the guard portion areadapted to receive the, peripheral flange 44a of the reflector; and withthe bottom of the reflector thus held in place, the top of the,reflector may be easily swung upwardly into engagement with the latchingformations 42 at the top of the guard portion. Closing pressure on thereflector causes the formations 42 to be cammcd open, and as soon astheflange of the reflector has passed the flared tips of these formations,the formations will snap closed behind the flange to releasably lock thereflector in place. The formations 42 may be held open by finger appliedpressure to effect disengagement of the reflector flange and permitservicing of the lamp 13.

A lamp socket means 45 is adapted to be attached to the frame 16 bymeans of a clamp 46. The lamp socket means 45 includes a socket housing48 having a handle 50 integral therewith. An electric cord 52 extendsthrough the handle 50 and into the housing 48 where it is electricallyconnected to the socket (not shown). The connection is through a switch54 which controls the application of electric power through the cord 52to the light bulb 13 in the usual and well-known manner. receptacle 56is preferably provided on the housing 48 and is connected within thehousing to theelectric cord 52. Auxiliary equipment, such'as electricdrills, saws, soldering irons, or the like, may be plugged into thisreceptacle, if desired.

The clamp 46 for attaching the socket housing 48 to the frame 16 is bestillustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a pair of clamping elements 60 and 62and a threaded fastener 64. Clamping element 60 is connected between theparallel wire frame members and 32 of the guard portion, and thisclamping element is centrally recessed to accommodate the neck of thesocket housing 48. The

clamping element 60 is apertured on either side of the' recess, andclamping element 62 has a tongue 62a at one endwhich is adapted forinsertion within one of the apertures in clamping element 60. Clampingelement 62 may also be centrally recessed to accommodate the curved neckportion of the socket housing 48, and the end of the clamping element62. opposite the tongue 62a is apertured. The threaded fastener 64extends through the aperture in the clamping element 62 and threadedlyengages in the remain ing aperture of the underlyingclamping element 60;The two elements may, thus, be forcibly drawn together by means of thethreaded fastener 64 to effect clamping of the socket housing 48therebetween.

Itwill be noted that the socket housing 48 is clamped in such a positionthat the light bulb 13 will be disposed within the space between theconvex guard portion 16 of the frame and the concave reflector 44, andthe handle 50 will extend forwardly and downwardly from the guardportion and substantially parallel to the plane and the circularperipheral frame wire 38 thereof. The handle 50 is, thus, presented foreasy access in front of the frame.

This handle and the guard portionof the frame are thus disposed atapproximately the same oblique angle with respect to.the base portion 14of the frame, which may vary from between about 30 degrees and about 50degrees and is preferably about degrees. The length of the handle andthe angle of the disposition thereof are preferably such that the bottomend of: the handle will lie approximately in the plane of the base 14,and the handle will thus cooperate with the base 14 to support thefixture 10 when the latter is resting on the ground or other generallyhorizontal surface. As a practical matter, however, the user may bendthe upright elements 26 and 28 to secure any desired angle between theguard 16 and the base 14.

Attached to the base portion 14 of the frame is a permanent magnet 66having a central'body 66a and an A convenience outwardly extendingperipheral flange 66b, the thickness of the flange being preferablyapproximately the same as that of the wire forming the base portion 14.The magnet 66 is attached to two parallel wires 70 and 72 which extendbetween the rearwardly diverging legs 20 and 22 of the base portion. Forthis purpose, two narrow plates 74 and 76 extend across and rest uponthe top of the parallel wires 70 and 72. These plates are apertured toaccommodate threaded fasteners 78, and the flange 66b of the magnet issimilarly apertured at both ends. The body 66a of the magnet ispositioned between the wires 70 and 72, and the magnet flange 66b isdisposed below these wires. Threaded fasteners 78 which extend throughthe overlying apertured plates 74 76 engage the underlying flange of themagnet 66. The wires 70 and 72 are,

thus, tightly clamped between the plates 74 and 76 and the magnetflange.

The permanent magnet 66 permits the base portion 14 of the fixture to befirmly attached to anymagnetically attractable surface such as theunderside of an automobile hood, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. Theangular disposition of the guard. portion 16 and the reflector 44 withrespect to the baseportion14 permits the lightto be directed at theproper angle into the motor area of the automobile. The base 14 willalso firmly rest upon a flat surface such as the ground, and the lightfrom the fixture will be directed upwardly at a convenient angle forsuch work, for example, as tire changing or repairs under the car, whereit is, desirable to have the light directed upwardly at an angle.

It may be seen that the light fixture constructed in ac, cordance withthis invention is extremely versatile and adapted for many different:uses. including the use as a trouble light for maintenance and repair ofautomobiles.

The permanent magnet attached to the base permits the fixture to bereleasably mountedon any .magnetically attractable surface, andthe'light from the fixture will be directed at a convenient angle.v Thelight bulb 13 may be easily serviced by snapping the reflector 40 out ofengagement with the clamping portions of the guard, and

the fixture may be easily manipulated by means ofthe convenientforwardly protruding handle.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that many modifications and changes invarious details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope'of the invention, as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable fixture for an electrically energized lamp,-

said' fixture comprising a wire frame having a substantially planarfixture supporting base portion, 'a guard portion obliquely disposedwith respect to said base portion, and

any intermediate-portionconnecting said base and guardportions, areflector, meansfor releasably attaching-r said reflector to said guardportion intermediate said base and guard portions, lamp socket meanshaving an elongate handle portion, clamp means releasably attaching saidlamp socket means to said frame with saidhandle portion extending fromapproximately the juncture of said guard and intermediate portions atvanoblique angle with for. releasably attaching said base portion toamagnetically attractable support.

2. The fixture recited in claim 1 wherein said attaching means includesa first pair of spaced finger formations extending generally inwardly ofthe peripheral portions of said guard portion at one side; thereof forengagement with the peripheral portions at one side of said reflector,

and a second pair of spaced finger formations extending generallyinwardly of the peripheral portions of said guard portions at theopposite side thereof'for engagement with the peripheral portions at theopposite side of said reflector, whereby said reflector may bereleasably held in operative postion relative to said frame.

3. A portable fixture for an electrically energized lamp, said fixturecomprising a frame having a fixturesupporting base portion defining aplane upon which said fixture is adapted to rest, a guard portionobliquely disposed with respect to said base portion and an intermediateportion connecting said base and said guard portions, a reflector, meansfor attaching said reflector to said guard portion, intermediate saidbase and guard portions, lamp socket means having an elongate handleportion, clamp means releasably attaching said lamp socket to said framewith said handle portion extending from approximately the juncture ofsaid guard and intermediate portions at an oblique angle with respect tothe plane of said base portion, whereby a lamp mounted within said lampsocket means will extend between said guard portion and said reflector,and magnetic means attached to said base portion and disposed in spacedrelationship with respect to the peripheral parts of said base portion,said magnetic means extending through said base portion for releasablyattaching said base portion to a magnetical- 1y attractable support.

4. A portable fixture for an electrically energized lamp, said fixturecomprising a frame having a fixturesupporting base portion defining aplane upon which said fixture is adapted to rest, a guard portionobliquely disposed with respect to said base portion and overlying saidbase when said base is resting upon a horizontal surface and anintermediate portion connecting said base and said guard portions, areflector, means for attaching said reflector toisaid guard portionintermediate said base and guard portions, lamp socket means having anelongate handle portion, clamp means releasably attaching said lampsocket to said frame with said handle portion extending fromapproximately the juncture of said guard and intermediate portions at anoblique angle with respect to the plane of said base portion, whereby alamp mounted within said lamp socket means will extend between saidguard portion and said reflector, and a permanent magnet attached tosaid base portion and disposed in spaced relation with respect to thesides and ends of said base portion, said magnet extending through saidbase portion for releasably attaching said base portion to amagnetically attractable support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,932,143 Piercy Oct. 24, 1933 2,570,329 Dunkelberger Oct. 9, 19512,580,359 Moineau Dec. 25, 1951 2,608,643 Day Aug. 26, 1952 2,723,343Wasselle Nov. 8, 1955 2,853,597 Hartman Sept. 23, 1958 2,987,612 HaulterJune 6, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,067 Great Britain Sept. 26, 1907

1. A PORTABLE FIXTURE FOR AN ELECTRICALLY ENERGIZED LAMP, SAID FIXTURECOMPRISING A WIRE FRAME HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR FIXTURE SUPPORTINGBASE PORTION, A GUARD PORTION OBLIQUELY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAIDBASE PORTION, AND AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION CONNECTING SAID BASE AND GUARDPORTIONS, A REFLECTOR, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING SAID REFLECTOR TOSAID GUARD PORTION INTERMEDIATE SAID BASE AND GUARD PORTIONS, LAMPSOCKET MEANS HAVING AN ELONGATE HANDLE PORTION, CLAMP MEANS RELEASABLYATTACHING SAID LAMP SOCKET MEANS TO SAID FRAME WITH SAID HANDLE PORTIONEXTENDING FROM APPROXIMATELY THE JUNCTURE OF SAID GUARD AND INTERMEDIATEPORTIONS AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANE OF SAID BASEPORTION, WHEREBY A LAMP MOUNTED WITHIN SAID LAMP SOCKET MEANS WILLEXTEND BETWEEN SAID GUARD PORTION AND SAID REFLECTOR, AND MAGNETIC MEANSSUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN SAID BASE PORTION FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHINGSAID BASE PORTION TO A MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTABLE SUPPORT.